London Style

From the dandies of the Restoration to the King’s Road punks of the 1970s and the fashion bloggers of today, London has always had its own eclectic style. But what exactly is it that makes it ‘London’? And who embodies it today?

Whether it is Helena Bonham Carter at the Oscars, Alexa Chung wearing loafers in New York or Vivienne Westwood shaking up the King’s Road, London style is unique. It’s about individuality - and it always has been, whether that be for clothing, jewellery or accessories.

London has always been a place where fashion is an expression of who you are. Think of the mods and the rockers, instantly identifiable by their attire. Or further back, the Restoration and the subtle line walked between the well-dressed gentleman, the colourful dandy, and the free-spirited bohemian.

It’s the same today. If you were mysteriously planted in a London borough, chances are one of the first hints would be the clothes around you. Is it the suits of the City, the geek-chic of the Soho media firms, the classic polo style of West London or the alternative dressing of the East? One thing that defines London is its lack of a cohesive ‘look’. But it definitely has a ‘style’. So, with so many different tribes, all donning a unique uniform, what ties this eclectic aesthetic together?

Look at any street style blog or feature on London and you see it - the quirk, the, eccentricity the Britishness at the heart of all of us. We may not have the glossy hair and killer heels of New Yorkers, the chic neutrals of the Parisians or the designer labels of the Milanese. But we sure do have personality.

Alexa Chung, often held up as the pin-up girl for London style, said it nicely in Time Out: “As British girls, we lean towards being a bit more messy, a bit more undone and maybe a little more eccentric.”

fasionista.com compares it to New York’s ‘normcore’ –  a plainer, more streamlined aesthetic that Vogue links to a pared-back Celine-esq look – saying that the street style of London Fashion Week adopted a “more classic yet dramatic sartorial approach.”

It’s not the glamour of Milan or the craftsmanship of Paris, or even the classic elegance and innovation of New York. It’s something different. When Gareth Pugh announced his return to the event for AW15, he acknowledged the place London had in his development.  "London is where everything began for me," he told vogue.co.uk. "My creative family is here, our story is here. So I'm thrilled to acknowledge such an important milestone on home ground. At heart this is a creative decision - it feels timely and true to the spirit of the work.”

And its not just the designers and the bloggers. It’s Tilda Swinton pairing teal harem pants with a metallic blazer to a screening of We need to talk about Kevin; Helena Bonham Carter in full red tartan to pick up a CBE; Emma Watson switching between red carpet high fashion and on-campus casual; or Cara Delavigne in sheer Burberry Prorsum one evening, and jeans and Converse the next. In London, we know how to mix it up. Vintage with new season, home-made with couture-made, slogan Ts with a battered designer leather jacket, riding a Boris bike in an evening gown.

It’s about looking put together without having been put together – showcasing the self within the style. And of course, we wouldn't be against some Lolo & Galago jewellery topping the whole thing off.

What does London style mean to you and how do you express it? Let us know with comment or photos.